Tassos Theocharidis: “Altenar sees the PBA’s 50th anniversary as a unique and powerful opportunity for sportsbook operators in the Philippines”

Altenar’s senior sales executive, Tassos Theocharidis, explains why operators face a golden opportunity to elevate basketball betting in PBA’s 50th season.

Interview.- As the Philippines Basketball Association marks its 50th anniversary this year, Tassos Theocharidis, senior sales executive at Altenar, outlines how the milestone is boosting sportsbook engagement in the region. With soaring fan interaction, mobile-first betting trends and advanced features like micro-betting and Bet Builders, operators can capitalise on the PBA’s growing popularity.

The PBA is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. How does Altenar view this moment in terms of opportunity for sportsbook operators in the Philippines?

Altenar sees the PBA’s 50th anniversary as a unique and powerful opportunity for sportsbook operators in the Philippines. The golden jubilee season is driving exceptional fan engagement through year-round celebrations, retro-themed games, elevated media attention, and commemorative events – creating ideal circumstances for sportsbook brands to enhance their presence and differentiate market offerings. With the country’s sports betting sector showing double-digit growth and consumer preference rapidly shifting to digital and mobile platforms, the heightened national excitement around PBA and an expanding bettor base means more frequent, larger, and varied betting markets are likely to succeed.

What data or trends are you seeing in basketball betting volumes in the Philippines, and how do you expect this to evolve following the PBA’s 50th season?

Basketball betting volumes in the Philippines remain robust, with basketball – especially PBA games – continuing as the most wagered-on sport in the market. In 2025, the basketball betting segment is forecast to generate approximately US$233m in revenue within the Philippines, highlighting its dominance over other sports betting verticals. Filipino bettors display strong engagement, with weekly participation estimated in the millions, and around 41.5 per cent of the population reportedly betting on sports, with basketball leading the way.

The majority of basketball bets are being placed via mobile and digital platforms, a reflection of the rapid digital transformation in the region. Globally, over 70 per cent of basketball betting volume is already attributed to mobile, and this trend is strongly mirrored in the Philippine market. In-play betting for basketball also shows double-digit year-on-year growth, as fans seek real-time engagement and new forms of wagering during events and big rivalry games.

Following the PBA’s 50th anniversary season, the expectation is for further increases in basketball betting volumes:

• The anniversary is bringing record viewership and fan engagement, with commemorative games and celebrations boosting event-driven wagering.
• Special promotions and the nostalgia factor are likely to draw in both new and returning bettors, expanding the customer base.
• With innovations in market offerings – such as prop bets, special odds on historic games, and themed promotions – operators can attract greater and more diversified betting activity

For operators looking to enter or expand in the Philippine market, what makes Altenar’s basketball product a must-have in their portfolio?

Altenar’s basketball product stands out as an essential addition for operators aiming to enter or expand in the Philippine market due to its depth, adaptability, and feature-rich design tailored specifically to local and global betting trends. Our sportsbook combines comprehensive market coverage, including the PBA and other basketball leagues, with over 180 pre-match and in-play betting options – addressing the full range of Filipino basketball fans’ interests

Key differentiators include:

• Advanced Bet Builder: Altenar’s Bet Builder enables bettors to combine multiple bets – including player specials and live markets – on the same event, enhancing user engagement and retention, especially for basketball fans who appreciate more in-depth, personalised experiences.
• Premium Data and Fast Markets: Access to quality data feeds and rapid bet settlement boosts user trust and live betting excitement, critical for the Philippine market’s mobile-first and in-play betting culture.
• Localisation & Customisation: Fully customisable front-end layouts and market-specific content management ensure seamless, culturally-relevant player journeys.
• Reliable 24/7 Support: Altenar provides truly round-the-clock support and risk management, ensuring operational stability during high-volume periods like the PBA season.
• Mobile and Live Focus: The user experience is optimised for mobile, and the product excels at delivering fast, uninterrupted live and in-play betting, matching where and how Filipinos are betting today.
• Regulatory and Market Expertise: Altenar’s track record across 30+ regulated markets, plus experience adapting to the fast-evolving Philippine regulatory landscape, makes us a low-risk, high-value partner for both emerging and mature operators.

“Altenar’s basketball product stands out as an essential addition for operators aiming to enter or expand in the Philippine market due to its depth, adaptability, and feature-rich design tailored specifically to local and global betting trends.”

Tassos Theocharidis, senior sales executive at Altenar.

With increased national attention on the PBA, how can operators best capitalise on the league’s rising engagement levels using Altenar’s sportsbook offering?

Operators can best capitalise on the PBA’s surging engagement by leveraging Altenar’s sportsbook features designed for high-traffic, event-driven moments in basketball. These tools enable both fan acquisition and deeper engagement during peak national attention.

Real-Time, Personalised Engagement:

Altenar’s engagement suite empowers operators to launch dynamic live betting promotions, Bet Boosts, and in-play micro markets – especially attractive when broadcasts, social media, and in-arena action all converge around major PBA matchups. Operators can deliver real-time bonus triggers, risk-free bet offers, and targeted marketing linked directly to unfolding PBA moments, increasing both activity and retention.

Advanced Bet Builder and Player Specials:

With Altenar’s Bet Builder, bettors can create highly personalised, multi-market wagers, including exclusive PBA player specials and live prop bets. This satisfies Filipino fans’ appetite for tailored, high-stakes, and interactive betting – heightening engagement during key games and throughout the anniversary season.

Rapid Data, Localisation, and Flexibility:

Altenar delivers fast, accurate PBA stats for up-to-the-second odds and live market adjustments, and we offer localisation features to tailor the full experience, content, and promotions for the Filipino market.

Altenar offers advanced features like Early Payout and Player Props. How do these features enhance the betting experience for Filipino basketball fans specifically?

Altenar’s advanced features, like Early Payout and Player Props, significantly enhance the basketball betting experience for Filipino fans by aligning perfectly with their betting preferences and cultural engagement with the sport.

Early Payout:

This feature allows bettors to have their bets automatically settled as winners if certain conditions are met before the game ends; for basketball, typically when a team leads by 18 points in leagues like the PBA. For Filipino basketball fans who relish real-time excitement and quicker returns, Early Payout reduces waiting time and uncertainty, increasing satisfaction and encouraging reinvestment. It also adds a dynamic edge to in-play betting, making every lead surge in a PBA game potentially lucrative, thus keeping bettors engaged throughout the match.

Player Props:

Player Props allow bets on specific player performances such as points scored, assists, or rebounds, rather than just match outcomes. This matches Filipino fans’ deep interest in star players and stats, as the PBA celebrates iconic athletes with strong followings. Player Props provide a richer, more personalised betting experience, enabling fans to leverage their sports knowledge or intuition about individual players. Additionally, these markets can be combined into parlays for bigger potential winnings, enhancing excitement.

Micro Betting has become increasingly popular for fast-paced sports like basketball. How does Altenar tailor this feature to suit real-time action in PBA games?

Altenar tailors its micro betting feature for the fast-paced, dynamic nature of PBA games by delivering ultra-fast, granular, real-time wagering on minute-to-minute game moments. This approach focuses on specific “micro events”, such as the outcome of the next possession or play, allowing bettors to place multiple bets throughout a single game, matching the rapid action and excitement of basketball.

Key ways Altenar adapts micro betting for PBA action include: Real-time performance and fast market feeds: Altenar ensures odds update instantly with live official data, giving Filipino bettors smooth, accurate, and immediate betting choices directly linked to in-game events.

Contextual and personalised micro-markets: Through partnerships like the one with Kero Gaming, Altenar offers AI-powered recommendation engines that curate market options most relevant to the gameplay moments and user preferences, keeping bettors highly engaged with meaningful in-play bets throughout each PBA game.

Market templates for quick rollout: Operators can swiftly launch pre-built micro-betting markets specifically tailored for basketball and PBA match tempo, reducing setup time and increasing the volume of betting opportunities available live.

This combination of speed, intelligence, and personalisation positions Altenar’s micro betting as perfectly suited to the fast action and passionate fanbase of the PBA, delivering continuous thrills and multiple betting moments per game.

How is Altenar planning to evolve its basketball offering to keep pace with changing fan behaviours and tech trends in Asia?

Altenar is proactively evolving its basketball offering by integrating cutting-edge technologies and features tailored to the rapidly changing behaviours of Asian fans and emerging tech trends. The focus is on enhancing engagement, personalisation, and real-time interaction to meet the expectations of a digitally-savvy audience.

By continuously innovating our sportsbook features, leveraging AI and data-driven personalisation, and emphasising the mobile-first, fast-paced nature of Asian sports fans’ preferences, Altenar aims to stay ahead of industry trends and deepen engagement in the evolving Asian betting landscape.

“Altenar is proactively evolving its basketball offering by integrating cutting-edge technologies and features tailored to the rapidly changing behaviours of Asian fans and emerging tech trends.”

Tassos Theocharidis, senior sales executive at Altenar.

Altenar’s senior sales executive, Tassos Theocharidis, explains why operators face a golden opportunity to elevate basketball betting in PBA’s 50th season. Interview.- As the Philippines Basketball Association marks its 50th…